Some Asylum seekers in Canada may get permanent resident status

The Government of Canada might approve a new measure which proposes to give permanent residence visa to some Asylum seekers. According to reports, the federal government is planning to launch a temporary program soon for asylum seekers who have worked in the healthcare occupations during the coronavirus outbreak. It is, indeed, a great opportunity for healthcare sector workers. The province of Quebec shelters thousands of asylum seekers who might be benefited from this new measure. As per estimates, nearly 1,000 asylum seekers are working in Quebec’s health sector. Even those people are working in this pandemic whose claims have been rejected, or who are still waiting for the government’s decision on their claims. La Maison d’Haiti is an organization in Quebec that supports migrants. The organization believes that the hard work done by the asylum seekers should be recognized. And that they have been integrated well into Canadian society now. So, it is appropriate that they should get a permanent resident visa. Several Immigration lawyers and humanitarian organizations have submitted requests to the Government of Quebec to regularize the status of asylum seekers. However, the claims made by asylum seekers are not under the jurisdiction of provincial governments. There is an independent administrative court of law, known as the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, that has the power to review these claims. The Canadian cabinet will have to approve the program before it comes into effect. Also, the temporary measure will be applicable to all healthcare workers such as security services, nurses aids, among others. It should be noted that the other essential services are excluded from this proposed measure.

Who is eligible?

The immigration minister has presented the eligibility criteria as follows:

Candidate must be an asylum seeker (even if the claim is still not approved, or the application had failed);
Candidate should have requested asylum before the temporary measure is enacted;
Should have a valid work permit;
Must have worked in the health sector;
Candidate should have worked for a duration of 4 weeks, or a total of 120 hours, between 25/01/2020 and until the announcement date of the new measure.